Chronology

Beginning – The Utes were created by Sinawav (the Creator) and were placed in the mountains. The Sinawav told the people they would be few in number but, they would be strong warriors, and protectors of their lands.

There is no migration story, we were placed here in the mountains, we have always been here, we will always be here.

1 AD Shoshonean speaking peoples separate from other Ute-Aztecan group

1150 During the 12th century, Yuman and pueblo type cultures began to be replaced by a Shoshonean pattern.

1580 The Utes (Mouache band) acquire horses from the Spanish, as related by tribal historians.

1598 New Mexico is settled by the Spanish. Early trade is established between the Ute people and the Spanish.

1626 Traditional Ute-Hopi conflicts began about this time and reached their pinnacle around 1680.

1626 Earliest written reference to the Utes by the Spanish

1637 First known conflict between Spanish and Utes occurs 1637-1641. Spaniards under Luis de Rosas captured about 80 Utacas (Utes) for forced labor in Santa Fe workshops.

1637 Utes acquire the horse, making the Utes the first Native Americans to introduce the horse into their culture. The Utes were part of the group who escaped from Santa Fe and captivity by Spanish troops led by Luis de Rosas.

1650 The seven Ute bands hold well defined territory.

Original Ute Territory

1670 First Peace Treaty between Utes and Spaniards.

1692 Alliance between Paiutes, Apaches, and Hopis, to counter Spanish aggression and expansion.

1700 Beginnings of raids upon Pueblos and Spanish in New Mexico by Utes, Apaches, and Comanche who formed alliances to carry out raids.

1716 Spanish campaign against Utes and Comanche in preventing raids is not successful.

1730 Utes continue to raid New Mexico settlements from 1730 to 1750. In 1747, Ute attacks caused the abandonment of Abiquiu. (It was reoccupied in 1748 by the Spaniards).

1746 Spanish defeat a combination of Ute and Comanche forces near Abiquiu.

1747 Spanish carry on a campaign against the Caputa Utes.

1752 Ute leaders, Chiquito, don Tomas, and Barrigon meet with the governor of New Mexico. The Spanish petition the Utes for a trade agreement for deerskins, in the hopes of forestalling further conflicts with the Mouache, Caputa and Chaguaguas.

1754 Utes have driven out the Navajos from the upper San Juan drainage.

1754 Mouache Utes enter an alliance with the Jicarilla Apaches.

1760s Spanish-Ute relations progress to allow Spanish trading ventures into Ute territory as far north as the Gunnison River.

1770 Utes and Navajos at war with the Hopis

1776 Dominguez-Escalante expedition through Ute territory with the help of a 12 year old Ute boy. Ute lands are mapped by Miera y Pacheco.

1778 Spanish law prohibits Spaniards and Christianized Indians from trading with the Utes. The ban was ineffective as traders continued to visit and trade with the Utes.

1779 Mouache Utes and Jicarilla Apaches joined New Mexico Governor Juan Bautista de Anza in a campaign against the Comanche. Comanche forces under Cuerno Verde were defeated.

1786 Utes represented by Chiefs Moara and Pinto protest the proposed peace treaty between the Comanche and Spanish. However, Spanish leader Juan Bautista de Anza prevails and a Peace Treaty was negotiated between the Mouache Band of Utes, Comanche and Spanish.

1789 Treaty of Peace between the Spanish and Utes and promise of Ute aid against the Comanche and Navajos. At this time, the Spanish took precautions against an alliance between the Mouache Utes and Lipan Apaches.

1801 Spanish use Mouache Utes as spies to gather intelligence on plains Indians.

1804 Utes and Jicarilla Apaches joined the Spanish in a campaign against the Navajos.

1806 Battle near Taos between about 400 Mouache Utes and an equal number of Comanche forces.

1809 About 600 Mouache Utes and some Jicarilla Apaches were attacked on the Arkansas River by the Comanche, Cuampe, and Kiowa. Delgaditio, Mouache chief was killed, along with other leaders Mano Mocha and El Albo.

1822 Lechat, a Ute leader, proposed treaty with the Americans but little was done immediately.

1829 Opening of the Old Spanish Trail from Santa Fe to San Gabriel, California, partly through Ute territory.

1832 Bent’s Fort is established in southeastern Colorado.

1833 Ouray is born near Taos

Ouray, Chieftains Memorial | Dana Kopf, Southern Ute MIS Dept.

1840s Constant attacks by the Utes on settlements in the Taos Valley and the area of New Mexico north of Espanola. Several land grants began to erode the Ute land base.

1844 Caputa attack on Rio Arriba settlements after an altercation between the Utes and the Governor of New Mexico in Santa Fe.

1845 Caputa Utes attack settlement of Ojo Calienta.

1846 Utes agree to remain peaceful after 60 Ute leaders were induced by William Gilpin to go to Santa Fe and confer with Col. Doniphan.

1849 First treaty between Utes and the United States at Abiquiu. Chief Quiziachigiate, a Caputa, signed as principal chief and 28 other Utes signed as subordinate chiefs.

1849 Yellow Nose (Moauche) is born

1850 The Utes began to obtain arms from the Mormons at Salt Lake.

1850 An agency was opened for the Utes at Taos. It was soon closed for lack of funds.

1851 Mouache Utes were attacked near Red River by Kiowas and Arapahos. The Utes retreated to Ojo Caliente.

1851 Settlements by former Mexican citizens were established in the San Luis Valley. This occurred through 1853. Livestock activities and farming began disrupting the Ute lifestyle.

1852 The U.S. Government established Fort Massachusetts near Mount Blanca to protect and control the Utes. Six years later the post was moved six miles and became Fort Garland.

1853 Agency reopened at Taos and Kit Carson was the agent from 1853-59.

1853 An Indian Agent reports war between Mouache Utes and other Indians along the Arkansas River caused by the scarcity of game. The agent requested the U.S. Government to prevent other Indians from encroaching on Mouache lands.

1853 Rations were being distributed to the Mouache at Arroyo Hondo and Red River and to the Caputa on the Chama River.

1854 Ute War started by an attack by Utes on Fort Pueblo. The Utes were mainly from the Mouache band under the leadership of Chief Tierra Blanca. Several skirmishes resulted in the Indians suing for peace.

1855 In early summer, a treaty was concluded with the Caputa band and one with the Mouache band in August. These were not ratified by the United States.

1856 Mouache Chief Cany Attle claims the San Luis Valley.

1857 Cany Attle claims the Conejos Valley.

1857 Officials recommend that the Caputa and Jicarilla Apache be removed to the San Juan River and assisted in becoming self-sufficient.

1860 Tabeguache Utes placed under the Denver Agency; Mouache and Jicarilla attached to a sub-agency at Cimarron on Maxwell’s Ranch; Caputa Utes continue to be served at Abiquiu; Weeminuche were managed by Tierra Amarilla.

1861 Agency for the Tabeguache Utes established at Conejos; Lafayette Head was the first agent.

1863 Tabeguache cedes San Luis Valley to the U.S.

1868 Treaty with the Utes and a reservation created for them consisting of approximately the western one-third of Colorado. Ouray selected as principal chief.

Ute Lands – 1868

1870 The Weeminuche object to removal to reservation in Colorado. Cabeza Blanca was one of the principal leaders of the Weeminuche at the time.

1871 Denver’s Indian Agency is established and maintained for Utes who continue to hunt buffalo on the plains.

1873 Mouache conclude treaty at Cimarron.

1873 The Utes cede the San Juan Mountain mining area by terms of the Brunot Agreement.

Ute Lands – 1873

1874 President U.S. Grant signs the Brunot Agreement and thousands of Ute lands are now appropriated by the U.S. government.

1874 U. S. takes more Ute lands, granting hunting rights as long the Utes are at peace with the white people. U.S. sets aside a perpetual trust of $50,000 per year in money or bonds which shall be sufficient to produce the sum of twenty five thousand dollars per annum. Which sum of twenty five thousand dollars per annum shall be disbursed or invested at the discretion of the president or as he may direct, for the use and benefit of the Ute Indians annually forever. For said services Ouray Head Chief of the Ute nation shall receive a salary of one thousand dollars per annum for the term of ten years or so long as he shall remain head Chief of the Utes and at peace with the people of the United States. Approved April 29, 1874.

1877 Establishment of the Southern Ute Agency at Ignacio to serve the Caputa, Mouache, and Weeminuche Ute bands.

1878 Caputa and Weeminuche cede rights to the 1868 reservation.

1878 Fort Lewis established at Pagosa Springs to protect and control the Southern Utes.

1878 Nathan Meeker named Ute agent at White River.

1879 En route to White River agency at the request of Nathan Meeker, Major Thornburgh and 13 men are killed in Ute Attack for violating an agreement with the Utes

1879 Meeker’s attempt to change the lifestyle of the Utes failed. Resulting in the demise of Meeker and 11 others. Meeker’s destruction of the Utes valued racetrack and killing of their horses was the final injustice that spurred the attack. The Meeker incident resulted in cries for the removal of all Utes from Colorado.

1880 Fort Lewis moved to the site near Hesperus, Colorado, on the Southern Ute Reservation.

1880 Ouray goes to Washington DC for treaty negotiations.

1880 Ute Agreement signed, resulting the loss of more acres of Ute land.

1880 Chief Ouray Dies.

1881 Tabeguache and White River Utes removed to the Uintah Reservation in Utah.

1881 Denver and Rio Grande Railroad goes through Southern Ute land.

1886 Consolidation of the Uintah and Ouray Reservations for the Northern Utes.

1888 Utes agree to move to San Juan County, Utah, but Congress fails to ratify agreement.

1891 Fort Lewis deactivated as a military post and becomes an Indian school.

1894 Ute allotment bill presented to Congress.

1895 Ignacio led most of the Weeminuche to the western part of the Southern Ute Reservation in protest against the government’s policy of land allotment

Ignacio, Chieftains Memorial | Dana Kopf, Southern Ute MIS Dept.

1895 Utes agree to the allotment bill.

1896 New agency set up at Navajo Springs to serve the Weeminuche who did want to accept land in severalty

1896 Allotments are distributed to Southern Utes

1905 Buckskin Charley and Antonio Buck (son) travel to Washington, DC, to meet with President Roosevelt.

1977 Buckskin Charley stained window glass dedication in Denver, Colorado. The stained glass depiction of Chief Buckskin Charley will be displayed in the Capitol building along with other notable historical figures in Colorado history.

Buckskin Charlie – Jeremy Wade Shockley | Southern Ute Drum

1977 Ute-Comanche Peace Treaty. This historic event sealed a treaty between two powerful tribal allies that reigned over the southwestern plains. The treaty began in the 1700s and was interrupted before it was finalized.

Leonard C. Burch 1977 Comanche Peace Treaty

1978 Southern Ute Health Center opens. The new facility replaced a clinic that was outdated and ill-equipped to deliver quality care to the increasing tribal populace.

1984 Tribal Council declares Education as a top priority of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. In Tribal Council Resolution No. 84-28, tribal leaders reaffirmed Education as a priority by establishing the Tribal Higher Education Scholarship Committee and Tribal Higher Education scholarship program.

1985 Elbert J. Floyd Scholarship established by descendants of Elbert J. Floyd, longtime friend of the Southern Ute people and past BIA Superintendent who assisted the Tribal Council.

2000 Southern Ute Indian Academy opens to provide services to Southern Ute Children or children of Southern Utes, from infancy to twelve years old.

2001 On June 8, the Southern Ute Tribe was awarded a Triple AAA general-obligation bond rating, the highest credit rating possible. The Southern Ute Tribe is the first Native American tribe to earn the rating.

2008 New Sky Ute Casino and Resort Opens. The resort features 140 rooms complete with refined suites, four restaurants, and bowling alley.

Sky Ute Casino Resort

2009 Southern Ute Indian Tribe approves hunting and fishing in the off-reservation Brunot area, including rare game species. Tribal hunters will participate in the special hunt with special permits.

2009 Southern Ute Indian Tribe takes over Operation of Southern Ute Health Center after successful litigation with the Indian Health Service.

2009 Lake Nighthorse is filled with water supplied from the Animas La Plata Project.

2009 Housing and Urban Development awards the Southern Ute Indian Tribe $1,233,976 in housing grants to improve tribal housing.

2009 Solix and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe Partner on Algae Plant, an alternative energy facility

2009 Southern Ute Indian Tribe hosts First Annual Tri-Ute Games.

2010 Annie Bettini Memorial Stone Dedication at the Southern Ute Academy. Ms. Bettini was an outstanding tribal elder, linguist, and educator who advocated for higher education, and her great belief in the Creator.

2010 Multi-Purpose building and Memorial Chapel open. The Multi-purpose building is a 16,350 square foot facility and the Memorial Chapel consists of 5,048 square feet. The facilities offer services to the tribal membership at no cost.

Multi-Purpose Facility and Chapel

2011 Pearl Casias is elected Chairperson. Ms. Casias is the first woman Chairperson of the Southern Utes

2011 February 18 declared by the State of Colorado as “Ute Recognition Day”.

2011 Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Durango Discovery Museum enter into five year agreement to provide science, technology, engineering, and math education that will serve tribal youth through high school.

2011 New Southern Ute Culture Center and Museum opens.

Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum

2012 President Barack Obama declares Chimney Rock the site of ancient Pueblo ruins (Located within the boundaries of the Southern Ute Indian reservation as a National Monument on September 12.

2012 In November, the National Christmas Tree is harvested from the White River National Forest. Ute Elders from all three Ute tribes participate in commemorating the event. In December, Elders from all three Ute domains travel to the Nation’s capital to witness first-hand Christmas tree dedications.